Goldberg lager beer, a premium brand from the stables of Nigerian Breweries Plc has assured its consumers of a value oriented consumer engagement at the Osun Osogbo festival in Osogbo, Osun State. The brand also stated that it will activate a 21-day Goldberg beer village during the festival where the people of Osogbo and visitors will be treated to quality music, comedy, and the opportunity to cart away gifts courtesy of the brand.
Speaking during a stakeholder’s forum in Lagos which was organized to announce plans for the festival, Mr. Patrick Olowokere, Corporate Communications/Employee Engagement Manager, NB Plc, said the company is committed to supporting laudable initiatives that add value to society. Mr. Olowokere who represented Mr. Kufre Ekanem, Corporate Affairs Adviser, NB Plc at the forum, stated that the company will continue to deliver top notch strategies which would deliver value to its customers by supporting and actively promoting their culture and tradition.
Olowokere who described Goldberg as the befitting beer said, “The brand has continued to keep its consumers actively engaged all year round through its exciting consumer engagement platforms. We launched the first Fuji music activation platform called Fuji T’o Bam to connect with consumers and engage them on a platform that shares their interest. The brand also sponsors relevant community festivals that showcase and celebrate the rich traditions of the people. For the third time running, Goldberg will be part of the Osun Osogbo festival as the official beer sponsor in the beer category”.
He added that Goldberg will create a memorable beer experience that will excite and reward its loyal consumers and indigenes of Osogbo town. He said Goldberg’s involvement in the festival will further stimulate commercial activities in Osogbo with a positive impact on the economy of the State.
Speaking also, the Osun Osogbo festival consultant, Mr. Ayo Olumoko commended NB Plc for its unflinching support for the festival in the last 27 years. He said such support has helped in beaming the spotlight on the festival which he said is taking an international dimension. Olumoku said: “In the last 27 years, Nigerian Breweries Plc. has been a staunch supporter of the Osun Osogbo festival through another of its brands. About three years ago, Nigerian Breweries Plc. decided to replace that brand with Goldberg as the official beer of the Osun Osogbo festival. Indeed Goldberg has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with us to assure it will remain a sponsor of the festival. ”
He said the Osun Osogbo festival has been consistently celebrated over the last 600 years without any break.
According to him, despite the death of the former Ataoja of Osogboland, two weeks to the festival in 2010, the cultural celebration still proceeded as planned. The festival coordinator said that the Osun Osogbo festival is a potential a foreign exchange earner for the country as visitors throng Osogbo from various parts of the world. He added that the organisation of the festival has become a benchmark for various traditional festivals across the country.
In his remark, Legal Adviser to the Ataoja of Osogbo land, Barrister Bamidele Ajigbade said the Osun Osogbo festival remained one of the legacies of the Osogbo people that had withstood the test of time despite the infiltration of western ideas and civilization in South West Nigeria. He assured that the festival which had been observed in the last 600 years will continue to maintain its original content.
In attendance at the event were high ranking chiefs in Osogboland among whom were Chief Moshood Adeyemo, Chief Fashanu Tunde and Olori Jelilat Oyetunji who sang the Osogbo anthem.
The event, compered by Yemi Shodimu an actor and a television host was spiced up by spectacular performances by the Aje Cultural group, a Lagos-based cultural group.